Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Musical dream team

Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was published in the UK in 1967 and is now to be turned into a stage musical under the direction of Sam Mendes (pictured). The Hollywood film director recently split from his actress wife Kate Winslet. He was  appointed  artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse in 1992 and quickly transformed into one of the most exciting venues in the city.

He reportedly agreed to take part in the Charlie project this week with the aim to open in London’s West End over Christmas 2011 followed by a Broadway transfer.

Sam Mendes' and Caro Newling's Neal Street Productions are set to produce the project, with a London venue or any potential casting yet to be announced. But they have assembled a dream team as it is thought that the songs will be penned by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman who are the team behind Hairspray with playwright David Greig (the man behind the National Theatre of Scotland's fantastical new version of Peter Pan) writing the book.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is about Charlie Bucket who comes from a poor family and wins a tour of Willie Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory after finding a golden ticket in a bar of chocolate

The two film versions of  "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Gene Wilder in 1971 and Johnny Depp in 2005 (directed by Tim Burton of Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland fame) were both huge hits.